Rio Tinto lowered its production guidance on Thursday, part of which it said was due to issues around heritage protection.

The miner now expects 2021 Pilbara iron ore shipments between 320 to 325 mt.

The Chinese government has asked mills in more cities in northern China to cut output from Nov. 15 to March 15.

Steel mills in some 28 cities in northern China will have to cut production from Nov. 15 to March 15 next year.

The Amapa iron ore mine is expected to generate 5.3 million tonnes of iron ore a year once at full capacity.

China's crude steel output from January-August grew 5.3% from a year earlier, despite production controls intensifying beginning in July.

Samarco filed for bankruptcy protection in April after failing to restructure 50 billion reais ($9.06 billion) in debt.

Iron ore has suddenly gone from commodity laggard to a top performer.